Winner takes all: India face Kuwait test in SAFF Championship final | Football News – Times of India

BENGALURU: Supremacy in South Asia is nothing new for the Indian football team, which has already won the regional title eight times. Precisely why the All India Football Federation (AIFF) was open to the idea of guest teams in the SAFF Championship to raise the competition level.
Both India and Bangladesh benefited from the move as they took on Kuwait and Lebanon, respectively, in the semifinals that went into extra time. Even as the Bengal Tigers went out, the Blue Tigers battled past Lebanon via the tie-breaker to set up a final against Kuwait, a team battling to regain lost glory in world football.
Under Igor Stimac, India are now a confident bunch ready to face any challenge. On Tuesday at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium, in front of a sea of Blue army, Sunil Chhetri’s boys will have to make sure they have memorised Stimac’s instructions as the Croatian, who is serving a two-match man for his outbursts in a league match against Kuwait, will be missed on the touchline.

The mainstay of India’s defence, Sandesh Jhingan, who made his debut back in 2015, will be back after missing the semifinal against Lebanon and said Kuwait will be formidable opponents.
“They are a good side with an experienced coach. Individually, very good players and a team that is difficult to break. As we saw in our last game, they will score if you let your guard down for even 10 seconds. Kuwait is the toughest team we have faced in the last 9-10 games,” Jhingan told reporters.
Both India and Kuwait start the final with impressive unbeaten records. The hosts are yet to face defeat this year while Kuwait are undefeated in their last 10 games, after beginning the year with a 1-2 loss to Qatar.
India’s only win against Kuwait came in 2004 when they won 3-2 in a friendly.

“When I watched the last game, I didn’t feel I was much missed as the whole backline played well. I was confident that we would get through and I was preparing for the final. We deserved to win and now the whole focus is on Kuwait,” Jhingan added.
India assistant coach Mahesh Gawli, a man of few words, is on the verge of a rare double after winning the SAFF title first in Islamabad in 2005.
“Our last match against Kuwait was an aggressive one. We have spoken to the boys to be cool and calm,” Gawli said.
Asked about any selection headache, Gawli said: “They all want to be in the first XI. We will decide after today’s training.”

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Will it be left to Chhetri, SAFF’s joint top-scorer, again to do the trick and help India win a second title in two months?
The evergreen skipper, now 38, hasn’t taken any breaks and it will be up to youngsters like Sahal Abdul Samad, Mahesh Singh, Ashique Kuruniyan to take the burden off Chhetri’s shoulders.